Study of the horizontal sidetracking efficiency using hydrodynamic modeling (on the example of a Kazakhstani field)

One of the modern approaches for the effective development of small deposits is the construction and operation of wells with a complex architecture: horizontal wells (HW), sidetracks (BS, BGS), multilateral wells (MLW). Sidetracking makes it possible to reanimate an old well that is in an emergency state or inactivity for technological reasons, by opening layers that have not been previously developed, bypassing contamination zones, or watering the formation. This study examines the possibility of using horizontal sidetracks in the operating wells of the field of the Zhetybai group. To select the optimal length of the horizontal sidetrack of the wells, graphs of the dependences of the change in flow rate versus length of the horizontal well were built, taking into account the pressure losses due to friction. It can be seen from the dependence of NPV versus length of the horizontal wellbore that the maximum NPV is achieved with a horizontal wellbore length of 100 m. A further increase in the length of the horizontal wellbore leads to a decrease in NPV. This is due, firstly, to a decrease in oil prices, and secondly, interference of wells, a small number of residual reserves, and a small oil-bearing area. As a result of a comparison of technical and economic criteria, the optimal length of a horizontal wellbore is from 100-300 meters. Comparison of the flow rates of vertical wells and wells with horizontal sidetracks showed a clear advantage over the latter in all respects.

Measuring tourism success: alternative considerations

PurposeThe study aims to explore the possibility of redefining success in tourism and measuring such a phenomenon by considering alternatives to economic factors, and to identify the ways such measurement could be implemented.Design/methodology/approachThe study reviews and explains current approaches to defining and measuring success in tourism in the literature, followed by identification of alternative factors which could be measured and the implications of such a change in approach.FindingsThere has been a long-standing emphasis and priority placed on measuring tourism at the national level with a focus on economic criteria, and this has been followed at regional and local levels. The result has been that success has become equated with volume, supporting the aim of continued growth in tourism. Such an approach and attitude mitigate against achieving or moving towards sustainability, and other measures are needed to avoid problems such as overtourism.Originality/valueThere has been little discussion of moving to a wider range of indicators of success in tourism, and the previous focus has been on economic criteria and competitiveness as shown by tourist numbers. This paper presents a discussion of an alternative approach, showing that tourism stakeholders from national to local levels need to redefine success as including factors such as community and environmental well-being and focus on a wider concept of success. Using existing data and organisations would enable measuring such concepts to be done without major change or greatly increased costs to agencies.

Justification of a rational option of development of the highspeed railway according to technical, technological and economic criteria

When a new high-speed railway is designed on the routes with the existing mixed(freight and passenger) traffic, part of the trains can be relocated from the existing railway to thenew one. This will have an additional effect of the increasing current capacity of the existing railway. A method is proposed for justification of a rational option for the development of a high-speedrail on the basis of technical, technological and economic criteria. It is proposed to solve the problemof determining the rational option for the development of a high-speed railway as the problem ofoptimal distribution of resources among the components of the railway, taking into account technical,technological and economic criteria. The result is a set of solutions consisting of options for thedevelopment of each component of the railway, which will provide the maximum systemic effect forthe railway as a whole. Each jth option of the development of the ith component of a high-speed railwaycan be described by three main indicators: the travel time of a high-speed train; capital investmentsrequired to implement this option; and the available traffic capacity of the component. Depending onthe problem being solved, each of the listed parameters can act both as a criterion and as a limitation.Depending on the purposes of the design, it is proposed to consider the problem of determiningthe rational option for the railway development either in the direct or inverse setting. In the first case,the systemic effect is expressed by an objective function that minimizes the amount of necessarycapital investments in the railway infrastructure while ensuring the stipulated travel time of a highspeed train. In the second case, the purpose is to minimize the travel time of the train withoutexceeding the specified amount of capital investment in the development of all components of therailway.The results obtained can be used to justify decisions on the use of single-track components andto determine the rational configuration of single-track lines when high-speed traffic is organized.

Assessment of the Advantages and Limitations of Installing PV Systems on Abandoned Dumps

The feedback from international practice has shown that the installation of photovoltaic (PV) parks on abandoned dumps is one of the best environmental and economical solutions. This paper discusses the site selection criteria for the installation of PV systems on dumps. When installing the PV systems, different environmental, technical, and economic criteria should be respected. The ground movement and combustion hazards in the dumps appear to be the main constraints and limitations for the installation of photovoltaic panels. This paper presents several examples of the installation of photovoltaic panels on coal-lignite dumps in France. However, the number of projects is still very limited compared to the identified potential.

An overview about the feasibility of the hydrogen power plants

In order to make the decision to implement a project from any domain, several aspects must be analyzed in the preliminary stage, leading to the justification of the practical realization of the project. Feasibility is based on technical-economic criteria but also involves other impact factors, such as social and ecological. In the case of hydrogen, there are not many countries with experience in the field, but in the future it is expected that hydrogen technologies will expand, from production, transport, storage, distribution and use. There are more and more factors that encourage the development of hydrogen projects and the funding proposed through European environmental agreements is a real challenge for specialists. Therefore, the authors of the paper aimed to analyze several aspects of the feasibility of hydrogen production and storage projects with the identification of implementation conditions: benefits, efficiency, costs, sources of funding, entities involved, constraints or legislative framework.

Fish Loss/Waste and Low-Value Fish Challenges: State of Art, Advances, and Perspectives

The sustainability of fishery is a global challenge due to overfishing and reduced stocks all over the world; one of the leading factors of this threat is fish loss/waste. As a contribution to the global efforts towards a sustainable world, this review addresses the topic from different sides and proposes an overview of biorefinery approaches by discussing bioactive compounds that could be produced from fish loss (nitrogen compounds, lipids, minerals and pigments, and fish-based compounds such as chitosan). The second part of this review reports on the possibility of using loss or unwanted fish to design products for human consumption or for animal feeding, with a focus on economic criteria, consumers’ segmentation, and some examples of products. The final focus is on Food and Agriculture Organization FAO guidelines as a roadmap for the future with respect to solving this threat by addressing the problem from different sides (technology, skills, market, policy, social and gender equity, and infrastructures).

‘Here’ and ‘There’: Constructing the Idea of Home in (Lithuanian) Migration

The article analyses the concepts of home. The analysis is based on field research data obtained from two Norwegian municipalities, one in the northern and one in the south-western part of Norway. Based on interviews, the article reveals the migrants’ own concepts of home. The results of the survey reveal three main concepts of home construction by migrants: home in Lithuania, home in Norway, and home as ‘here’ and ‘there’. The idea of home in Lithuania while permanently living in Norway is partly related to the migrants’ age and their social status, also on the degree of integration into the new society (older immigrants to Norway often work in low-skilled jobs and do not speak Norwegian or speak it poorly); they see their presence in Norway as temporary and based on economic criteria. The idea of Norway as home correlates with the (high) degree of integration of migrants into Norwegian society. Migrants who feel well received by the new society, regardless of age, call Norway their home. The idea of home as ‘here’ and ‘there’ is closely linked to the time dimension. Migrants often emphasize that after arriving in Norway, they seldom see themselves as having left Lithuania, until they gradually integrate into the new society and begin considering Norway as their home. Lithuania is often referred to as second home (more often associated with holidays, entertainment, etc.). The kin (mostly parents) are named as a bridge between Norway and Lithuania, which disappears when parents pass away. Various intermediate ideas of home construction are also possible. For example, identifying the place of residence of family members at the time as home or not being able to pinpoint where you feel at home. The discussed dimension of emotions in the construction of the idea of home also provides inspirations for further reflection on the construction of home as a constant process, which is dependent not only on rationally chosen factors but also on the socio-cultural environment and intercultural communication.

Renovation readiness matrix for cities

The accumulated positive experience of the housing stock renovation in Moscow puts issues of its distribution in other cities on a current agenda in many regions. The housing stock renovation program has an integrated impact on the social and economic development of the urban environment. However, economic factors are primarily important to the program implementation. The authors of this article have identified a number of economic criteria / parameters that help to assess the readiness for renovation in a particular city. The article introduces a Renovation Readiness Matrix that allows consolidating these parameters.